Triple action lock



Oct. 22, 1940. G H, oss 2,218,685

TRIPLE ACTION LOCK Filed Aug. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 //7 van for G. H. Ross 1% Why;

Oct. 22, 1940. e. H. Rbss TRIPLE ACTION LOCK Filed Aug. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 #4 W ahfya.

G. H. ROSS TRIPLE ACTION LOCK Oct. 22, 1940.

Filed Aug. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Oct. 22, 1940. G, H. Ross 2,218,685

TRIPLE ACTION LOCK Filed Aug. 22, 1938 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Oct. 22, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE TRIPLE ACTION LOCK George H. Ross, Fort Frances, Ontario, Canada Application August 22, 1938, Serial No. 226,172 1; Claims. (01. 10-145) My invention relates to improvements in triple action locks, an object of this invention being to provide-a device of the character herewithin described which will render a door and associated posts to which it is applied virtually unopenable when my mechanism is in the locked position.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the characterherewithin described in which the conventional barrel lock together with a substantial portion of the mechanism forming part of my invention is positioned within the post of an adjacent door instead of all being within or upon the door itself.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which cannot become unlocked by forcing the barrel thereof and shearing the tumblers.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which cannot be unlocked by wrenching the door handle even though the door handle shank is so wrcnched that it is also rotated with the handle.

A further object of my invention is to provide in association with the device of the character herewithin described, means whereby a locking mechar'iidrhinay conveniently be locked from the inside as for instance the inside of an automobile and means being also provided whereby it can conveniently be ascertained whether or not any given door is locked.

A further object of my invention is to provide a secondary end-shiftable bolt engageable with the end-shiftable post bolt of my mechanism, this arrangement functioning as an auxiliary safety mechanism.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device of the character herewithin described which is of economical construction, of simplified operation and one which cannot easily become out of order.

With the above more important objects in view and such other minor objects as may appear as the specification proceeds, my invention consists essentially in the arrangement and construction of parts all as hereinafter more particularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of my triple action lockshowing the essential component parts of my door assembly.

Figure 5 is an extended perspective illustration of the essential component parts of my door post assembly but including only a fragment of the 5 end-shiftable post bolt assemblies.

Figure 6 is a plan view of my pneumatic hand operated bolt locking assembly operable from the interior of an automobile.

Figure '7 is a detail in elevation of a portion of the arrangement shown in Figure 6.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

While my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings for use in the locking and unlocking of automobile doors, it is to be understood that by slight modifications its field of utility may be considerably extended for the locking and unlocking of all kinds of doors, particularly the doors of strong boxes and the like and in essence my invention is as follows.

The triple action locking mechanism consists of two parts, the door assembly A and the door post assembly B, the mechanism being unlocked by means of a key inserted into an ordinary barrel lock C, while the door is ordinarily opened by rotation of the handle illustrated.

Rotation of the handle moves the bolt shifting assembly D to the right whereupon the post bolt E is repressed so that upon pulling open the door, the stationary catch F slides past the bolt E and it should also be noted that simultaneously with the assembly D moving to the right, the secondary bolt G moves to the left. At this point it would be well to explain that the door post illustrated in 35 the accompanying Figure 1 represents the post between the front and the rear doors of a sedan type automobile so that the parts of this figure shown in chain lines represent the front door, the mechanism of which however, is to be understood as identical with that of the rear door illustrated in iEull lines. v

To lock the front and rear doors from outside the vehicle, a key is inserted into the barrel lock C, which has the effect of rotating the primary bolt locking block, H, 90 with respect to the accompanying Figure 5 and in this position, it will be seen that the abutments J forming part of my post bolt assembly, are prevented from moving inwards upon rotation of the handle and consequent end-shifting movement of the assembly D because they would bear against the semi-circular shoulders K of the block H.

When, however, the block is in the position illustrated in the accompanying Figure 5, it will be obvious they are free to move inwardly and outwardly between the recesses L. The yoke lock element M normally occupies the position illustrated in the accompanying Figure 1 but when the tumblers of the barrel lock C are thrust outwardly or in other words when they are in locked position and projecting through the apertures in the cylindrical portion of the barrel socket N, they push the arms of the element M to the right while the bifurcated portions project into the small recesses O of the block H so that even in the event of a person attempting to open the doors by forcing the barrel lock and shearing the tumblers, they would still be unable to eifect entrance because the sheared ends of the tumblers would still be in position within the apertures formed upon the cylinder of the barrel socket N and this would maintain the element M in the position aforesaid.

Finally in connection with this preliminary description, it should be noted that I also provide a secondary bolt locking block P operated pneumatically from the vacuum caused by an associated motor so that the doors may be locked from inside the automobile. This is effected by means of the pneumatic hand operated bolt lock ing assembly Q by means of which air is introduced into the housing It upon the left hand side of the pivoted piston to swing the associated arm 8 attached to the corner of the member P. This has the effect of swinging the member P to the right so that the semicircular shoulder thereof prevents inward movement of the abutment J. A dash-light T may also be installed in connection with this detail so that the driver of an automobile may be enabled to ascertain whether or not the doors are locked.

Having now described my invention in its essentials, a detailed description of the respective parts and the mode of operation thereof will be given.

As hereinbefore indicated my invention comprises a door assembly I and a door post assembly 2 and describing first the former in detail, the same will be seen to consist of a handle 3 of the lever type which is connected to a door handle spindle 4. The spindle is journalled in a suitable bearing 5, which bearing is of course in turn secured in position by any convenient means within the thickness of the door and adjacent to the bearing is a short angle bracket 6, also suitably positioned by any well-known means. The vertical surface I of the angle bracket acts as a guide for the bolt shifting assembly 8, the configuration of which is clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, from which the same will be seen to consist of a central portion 3, a vertically channelled portion I0 and a block I I.

The shank 4 is provided with a pair of juxtaposed and diametrically opposed cam surfaces I2 and I3, the surface I2 being positioned within the confines of the recess I4, the shank 4 of course extending through the recess I5. The cam I3 is designed to actuate a secondary endshiftable bolt 16, the nose H of which extends through the aperture I8 formed in the stationary catch I9, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 4 of the accompanying drawings, the cam surface I3 bears against the outwardly projecting and vertical surface 20 of the bolt I6 and from the foregoing it will clearly be understood that as the shank 4 is rotated to move the block I I to the right with respect to the accompanying Figure 1, the bolt I6 will be moved to the left, these portions being movable against the resistance of two springs 2| and 22, the upper end of the former bearing against one wall of the member I3 while the other bears at its upper end to the right against the surface 23.

The door post assembly comprises a conventional barrel lock 24 housed within a barrel socket of the configuration clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 5, 25, this member being bolted to the shell 26 of the door post to prevent rotation thereof and provided upon the cylindrical portion 21 thereof with a plurality of rectangular apertures 28, through which the tumblers 29 of the barrel extend when the same is in locked position under the influence of the inserted key. v

The end of the lock 24 engages with the slot 29' formed in the end of a lock shaft 30, the

ring 3| being merely provided to extend around the annular recess 32 upon the barrel of the lock to prevent retraction thereof.

Against the inner wall 33 of the door post, is a block 34 provided with a central aperture 36 through which the lock shaft extends, the same acting as a bearing therefor, and also as a guide for a pair of post bolt assemblies 36 of the configuration clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 3, from which these will be seen to comprise each a nose portion 31, a forwardly projecting abutment 33 and a pair of inwardly extending, spaced parallel guides 38, the lock shaft 30 passing between the guides. It should also be noted that displacement of these members is prevented by the short vertical and inwardly extending wall sections 46, while they are also prevented from lifting or falling by means of the enclosing casing 4| and 42, the configuration of which is also clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 3.

The bolt assemblies 36 are normally held in the position illustrated in the accompanying Figure 1 by means of the springs 43 and 44 of the same general type as the springs II and 22 and as the construction of the same is believed clearly apparent from the accompanying Figures 1 and 2, a detailed description thereof will not be given.

Positioned upon the shaft 36 between the lock 24 and the members 36, is a tiny bolt locking block 45 and a secondary bolt locking block 46, the former being keyed to the shaft 30 while the latter is free to rotate thereupon, so that it will be understood that the former is actuated by rotation of the barrel lock'when a key is inserted thereinto in the manner now to be described.

The primary block is of the configuration clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 5 and when the mechanism is unlocked, the same occupies the position shown in this figure. In such position it will be apparent that the abutments 38-of the bolts 36 are free to move inwardly and outwardly upon pressure and release between the recesses 41 but when this member is turned to 90 to the right, it is obviousthat the semicircular shoulder portions 48 prevent such movement of the bolts. Consequently, the handle 3 cannot be rotated because the bolt shifting assembly 8 cannot be moved. Supposing however, that a right angled chisel pointed member were inserted into the key aperture 43 when the tumblers were extended and wrenched. In such case of course, the block 45 could be moved down to the position illustrated in Figure 5 or in other words, the unlocked position. Against such a contingency, however, I have provided by means of the auxiliary locking element ill, which consists of a yoke portion the arms of which straddlethe short wall 46 and a single arm 52, each of the three arms being provided with a rounded head as clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 1, while the device is also pivoted upon a bearing 53 and normally maintained in the position illustrated in the figure immediately above referred to.

It will now be seen that should the tumblers be sheared off in the manner just described, the broken ends thereof will still occupy their positions within the apertures 28 formed on the cylindrical portion of the barrel socket 25 and hence will keep the arm 52 pressed to the right with the heads pipvided upon the arms 5| occupying positions within the apertures 55 upon the block 45, from which it is apparent that such an attempt to unlock my mechanism by this means I would inevitably fail.

Finally, I have provided means whereby the doors on either side of the central post 2 may be locked against unauthorized opening from the inside of an automobile, this mechanism comprising the secondary bolt locking block 46 already mentioned to which is attached at the corner 56 thereof, an arm 51. This arm is pivoted at its upper end as clearly illustrated in the accompanying Figure 2, being operated by a reciprocating piston 58 housed within a sector shaped housing 59, into which air may be admitted through the conduits 66 and 6|. The interiorof this housing is of course sealed against escape of air and chiefly resembles in principle the means whereby the conventional windshield wiper of automobiles is operated.

The conduits 66 and 6| communicate with a two-way valve 62 illustrated in the accompanying Figures 6 and '7, from which the same will be seen to consist of a circular plate 63, provided with a central aperture through which air or a vacuum may pass through the conduit 64. Apertures 65 and 66 communicate with the conduits 66 and 6| and in bearing engagement with the plate 63 through which these two latter apertures extend, is a second plate 67 capable of being rotated by means of the thumb screw 68.

The plate 61 is provided with a right angled conduit 69 which communicates with the interior of the conduit 64. It will also be seen that the conduit 69 is right angled also at the outer end thereof to communicate with the apertures 65 and 66. It should finally be mentioned in connection with the plate 61 that the same is also provided with a pair of apertures extending clear through the thickness thereof, through which air is exhausted. The thumb screw 68, it will be noted, is simply secured to the outer circular surface of the plate 61, while the sleeve 1| is secured around the inner end thereof to the opposite surface of this member. Consequently, if the thumb screw were pulled downwardly with reference to the accompanying Figure 6, such movement would take place against the resistance of the spring 12 which bears against the collar 13 at one end and against the upper surface of the plate 63 at the other end, the sleeve surrounding the tube 14 to which the rubber conduit 64 is connected.

From the foregoing description of the two-way valve illustrated in the accompanying Figures 6 and 7, it will be apparent that when the thumb screw 68 is in the position illustrated, air may proceed through the tube 64 in the direction of the arrow, from thence through the passageway 69, afterwards right angling and proceeding through the aperture 66. through the conduit 6| and into the housing 69 upon the lefthand side of the piston 56 with respect to the accompanying Figure 2. At this time air upon the opposite side of the piston will be exhausted through the conduits 66 and through one or other of the pair of apertures 10 with which it is in alignment.

When the thumb screw is rotated so that the passageway 69 communicates with the conduit 60, then it is obvious that the piston will be thrown across and air will exhaust out of the conduit 6|. Thus when the operator of an automobile starts his engine he is able to throw the block 46 across into the locked position by the simple act of rotating the thumb screw 68 and in this connection it will be seen that I provide a simple electric circuit 15. connecting to a light bulb l6 conveniently situated in view of an automobile operator upon the dashboard of the automobile, the circuit being connected to a battery 11 and a contact 18. The contact 18 is positioned upon a segmental insulated block 19 and in the position illustrated in the accompanying Figure 2, it will be seen that with the block 46 in the unlocked position, the light is off which will serve to warn the driver that his doors are not locked. He will accordingly operate the thumb screw 68 which will throw the arm 51 across, bringing the arm into engagement with the contact 18 and lighting the bulb 16. Obviously, however, if it should be so desired, the contact may be broken when the doors are lockedand made when unlocked.

Since various modifications can be made in the above invention, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same, made within the scope of the claims without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense and I desire only such limitations placed thereon as are specifically expressed in the accompanying claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. Improvements in locking mechanisms comprising in combination, a door assembly including a handle and a co-acting door post assembly, said door assembly comprising a stationary catch and an endwise-shiftable bolt shifting assembly, said door post assembly comprising in combination with a barrel lock an endwise-shiftable bolt designed, when the associated door in which said associated door post assembly is mounted, to overlap said stationary catch thereby maintaining said door in closed position, said bolt shifting assembly being in alignment with said bolt and operable to endwise-shift the same inwardly upon rotation of said handle and means operable upon the insertion of a key into said barrel lock and the usual projection of the tumblers thereby to prevent inward endwise-shiftable movement of said bolt upon attempted operation of said bolt shifting assembly.

2. The device as defined in claim 1 which includes an auxiliary locking element for preventing inward endwise-shiftable movement of said bolt upon the shearing of said tumblers.

3. The device as defined in claim 1 which includes a hand operated bolt locking mechanism operable from a point upon the opposite side of the door to that upon which said handle is located.

4. Improvements in locking mechanisms comprising in combination, a door assembly and a coacting door post assembly, said door assembly comprising in combination with a handle, an associated door handle spindle, aspring actuated endwise-shiftable bolt shifting assembly including a bolt shifting block and a stationary catch positioned to one side of said block, said door post assembly comprising in combination with a barrel look, a lock shaft, the endwise-shiftable bolt assembly being provided with a projecting abutment and a primary bolt locking block having recesses formed therein, the nose of said bolt overlapping said stationary catch when said mechanisms are in locked position, said bolt shifting assembly being in alignment with said nose and adapted to endwiseshift the same into said door post upon rotation of said handle to separate said nose and said catch from said overlapping position thereby permitting said door to be opened, said abutment in the unlocked position being free to move with the nose of said bolt into the recesses provided in said primary bolt locking block, said bolt locking block being rotated upon the insertion and rotation of a key into said barrel lock to an extent such that said recess is out of shifting assembly being actuated by said handle and including a bolt shifting block bearable against said bolt, a stationary catch upon said door, said bolt being bearable against said catch, means within said door post assembly for locking said bolt in varying engagement with said catch and against endwise-shiftable movement, and means upon the opposite side of said door to that upon which said handle is located for locking said bolt against endwise shiftable movement.

8. Improvements in looking mechanisms comprising in combination, a door assembly and a coacting door post assembly including a pneumatic bolt locking assembly, said door assembly comprising in combination with a handle, an associated door handle spindle, a spring actuated endwise-shiftable bolt shifting assembly including a bolt shifting block and a stationary catch positioned to one side of said block, said door post assembly comprising in combination a barrel lock, and a lock shaft, the endwise-shiftable bolt assembly being provided with a projecting abutment and a primary bolt locking block having realignment with said abutment to prevent endwisecesses formed therein, the nose of said bolt overshifting of said bolt upon pressure being exerted against the nose thereof by said bolt shifting assembly upon rotation of said handle.

5. The device as defined in claim 4 which includes a secondary bolt locking block freely mounted upon said lock shaft, said secondary block being also provided with a recess into which said abutment may extend upon inward endwiseshiftable movement of said bolt and means for rotating said secondary block from a position upon the opposite side of said door to that upon which said handle is located to present a projecting shoulder in alignment with said abutment which will prevent inward endwise-shifting movement of said bolt.

6. Improvements in locking mechanisms comprising in combination, a door assembly and a co-acting door post assembly, said mechanisms including a bolt shifting assembly and a stationary catch, said bolt shifting assembly being bear able against said bolt, means for locking said bolt against shifting movement, a conventional barrel lock and tumblers projectable into locked position, and having in combination therewith a pivoted auxiliary locking element rotatable under pressure of said barrel lock tumblers when the same are projected into locking position to lock said bolt against movement, if said barrel lock be forcibly rotated and thetumblers thereof sheared-off.

7. Improvements in looking mechanisms comprising in combination, a door assembly including a handle, and a co-acting door post assembly,

said mechanisms including an endwise-shiftable bolt within said door post assembly, a bolt shifting assembly upon the associated door, said bolt lapping said stationary cap when said mechanisms are in locked position, said bolt shifting assembly being in alignment with said nose and adapted to shift the same endwise into said door post upon rotation of said handle to separate said nose and said catch from said overlapping position thereby permitting said door to be opened, saidabutment in the unlocked position being free to move with the nose of said bolt into said recesses provided in said primary bolt locking block, said bolt locking block being rotated upon the insertion and rotation of a key into said barrel lock to an extent such that said recess is out of alignment with said abutment to prevent endwiseshifting of said bolt upon pressure being exerted against the nose thereof by said bolt shifting assembly upon rotation of said handle, a secondary bolt locking block freely mounted upon said lock shaft, said secondary block being also provided with a recess into which said abutment may extend upon inward endwise-shiftable movement of said bolt, means for rotating said secondary block from a position upon the opposite side of said door to that upon which said handle is located to present a projecting shoulder in alignment with said abutment which will prevent inward endwise-shifting movement of said bolt, a sector shaped housing having a reciprocating pivoted piston therewithin, an arm connected to said piston, the opposite end of said arm being connected to said secondary block, air conduits communicating with said housing upon either side thereof, a manually operable three way valve connected to said conduit and a conduit extending from said valve to an associated engine block GEORGE H. ROSS. 

